When I was in college, I used to write little ditties and short stories and poetry for my friends. Writing a book is another thing. It is so much different from my traditional day of dirty fingernails and greasy hair and hot pans. Mario Batali bookcollegeday share on social
As far away as you can get from the process of mechanisms and machinery, the more likely your food's going to taste good. And that - that is probably the largest thing I can hand to anybody is let your hands touch it. Let them make it. Mario Batali foodgoodhand share on social
We need to figure out a 'harvest system' to collect the produce that stores don't put out for customers to buy because it's not perfect looking. Frankly, the stuff left to rot in the storeroom is more beautiful to me than the perfect carrot. I'm a gnarly carrot kind of guy. Mario Batali beautifulbuycarrot share on social
Shop often, shop hard, and spend for the best stuff available - logic dictates that you can make delicious food only with delicious ingredients. Mario Batali deliciousdictatefood Change image and share on social
I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing. Mario Batali cleansecupflower Change image and share on social
If you're going to buy pasta, you should buy dry pasta. If you're going to make it you can make the real thing, but you shouldn't buy fresh pasta. Mario Batali buyfreshmake Change image and share on social
Working at the Food Bank with my kids is an eye-opener. The face of hunger isn't the bum on the street drinking Sterno; it's the working poor. They don't look any different, they don't behave any differently, they're not really any less educated. They are incredibly less privileged, and that's it. Mario Batali bankbehavebum share on social
Day-old bread? Sadly, in America a lot of day-old bread just becomes nasty. Italian day-old bread, not having any preservatives in it, just becomes harder and it doesn't taste old. What I would warn people about is getting bread that's loaded with other things in it, because it starts to taste old. Mario Batali americabreadday share on social